Method of converting matte.



UNTTED- STATES iatented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE,

" METHOD- OF CONVERTING MATTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,241, dated December 8,1903. Application filed February 24, 19 08. Renewed October 10, 1903. Serial No. 176,573. (No specimens.)

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH BAGGALEY, of

Pittsburg, in they county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have'invented a new and useful Method of Converting Matte, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

My invention relates to a method of supplying flux or fluxes to mattes of copper or other metals during the converting process.

In producing copper by what is known as the Bessemer process it is customary after the ore 0r concentrates have been smelted in a blast-furnace or reverberatory furnace and reduced thereby into a matte varying approximately from, say, thirty to forty per cent. up to fifty or sixty per cent. copper to transfer such matte into a converter having a lining of from eighteen to twenty-four inches in thickness of silica bonded with sufficient clay to hold the lining in place. When the air is supplied through the convertingtwyers by the'blast, the iron contents of the matte after being oxidized rapidly attack and destroy the silica lining, and the iron contents of the matte are thus converted into a silicate-of-iron slag, which, being less in speoific gravity, floats on the top of the molten copper, gold, silver, nickel, (850., and can thus be removed. While this process of converting and purifying copper is eifective and is to-day in universal use, it has been found to be very expensive and to demand that a number of converter-shells be kept on hand in order to permit of lining and converting being carried on at the same time.

In my improved process of converting copper, as described in an application filed by me on January 8, 1903, Serial No. 138,296, I use a water-jacketed converter lined with a single layer of basic or other suitable brick, and I use a larger volume of blast, and consequently a more intense heat, than it is safe or possible to use in any converter thatis notprotected by a water-jacket. I also use an auxiliary heat that is capable of regulation, particularly in the later stages of the converting process, in order to maintain the temperature of the molten bath to a degree that renders it impossible for the contents of the converter to chill. Without the auxiliary heat it would be impossible to carry the con- ,to the converter either before pouring the been poured into the converter or after the It has, however, not been found com rnerciall verting process to a successfulfinish in any water-jacketed converter, because when theheat of the matte would begin to fail, through the elimination of the combustible materials contained therein, or, in other words, when the matte had been purified to the extent that it containedsixty, seventy, eighty, or ninety per cent. of copper, it would solidify, andthe" converting process while yetincomplete would be brought to a full stop. In my improved method I use in the converter a lining of basic or,neutral material, preferably in the formof bricks,so that Ido; not depend on the converter-lining to supply the flux necessary to satisfy the iron orother contained bases. On the contrary," I supply. the silica or other fluxes, as may be required,

matte to be converted into the converter or after pouring the matte into the converter or during the process of converting, as may be most convenient. a

My present invention consists in supplying such silica or other fluxes to the converter in a solid state and then heating or melting them by means of an auxiliary heat in the converter itself either before the matte has matte has been poured into the conver er or during the process of converting while thesolid flux is floating on top of the matte. I prefer to first place the desired flux in the converter and by means of auxiliary heatreduce it into a heated ora fused state andthen pour the matte on top of such heated or fused flux. This has the efiect of thoroughly mixing the two, and when the converting-twyers have been broughtrinto action the result is very satisfactory and the elimination of the iron contained in the matte is complete;

I am aware of the fact that John Hollway in the years 1878 and 1879, in his operations in England, added silica containing aproxi mately four or five per cent. in ironand sometimes asmuch as sixteen per centum of moisture, and in this way be accomplished separation of a portion of "the contained iron, after the same had been oxidizedby th blast, in the form of a silicate-of-iron slag profitable since that time to convert coppe on these lines, and the art'as practiced b plied to the converter in solid form and isthereafter brought to a heated or a fused condition by means of an auxiliary heat.

Those skilled in the art will be able to modify my invention Without departing from the spirit of it. For instance, any desired form of converter may be used and it may 5 contain either a basic ora silicious lining, for the fluxes maybe readily reduced to aheated or a fused state in such converter even without a Watenjacket without serious or material injury to the lining, providing an auxiliary heat be used, since \Vhat I claim is 1. The method herein described of converting mattes, which includes the step of introducing into the converter solid flux, and heating it in the converter with the aid of auxiliary heat; substantially as described.

2. The method herein described of convertin mattes, which consists in introducing into the converter solid flux, heating it in the converter with auxiliary heat, and then pouring the matte on the flux; substantially as described 3. The method herein described of converting mattes, which consists in introducing into the converter solid flux, fusing it in the converter with auxiliary heat, and then pouring the matte on the flux; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH BAGGALEY.

Witnesses:

GEO. B. BLEMING, H. M. OORWIN. 

